SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "X Marks the Spot Twice This Week" Edition

Last week saw an article on SuperPhillip Central showcasing six more underrated games with underrated soundtracks. Two of the games featured on that list are a part of that article, so check it out here.

Nevertheless, as the title of this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs hints, two games with X's at the end of their titles get featured this week. These are Xenoblade Chronicles X and F-Zero X to begin with. (Sorry this time around, Mega Man X fans!) Then we go on a bit of a rampage in Platinum Games' Anarchy Reigns.

And while X does mark the spot twice this week, so do arranged albums. F-Zero X's selected song comes from the Guitar Arrange album for the game while Mega Man Battle Network 3 has an entry from the Rockman.EXE 15th Anniversary Arrange Best Track album. Last but not least, Road Rash is pure, unfiltered chiptune awesomeness in music form.

To remind you, just click on each VGM title to hear the song spotlighted via YouTube video. Meanwhile, the VGM Database has all past 1465 VGM volumes spread out for more than five years of SPC's nine-year history. For now, however, let's get on to the music!

v1466. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) - Re:Arr X

Monolith Soft, the developer behind Xenoblade Chronicles X, does not only create games for Nintendo systems exclusively now, but the studio also helps out on the tech and development side for other Nintendo projects. A notable case here is the Nintendo Switch launch title and Wii U game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Hiroyuki Sawano mostly sticks to anime in which he composes scores for, but this time around he lent his talents to the Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack with varying degrees of success. This revival of Theme X from the game's soundtrack is one of my favorites in the entire game.

v1467. F-Zero X (N64) - Grand Prix Ending (Guitar Arrange Version)

Alongside 1998's release of F-Zero X in Japan, members of the sound team for the game got together and put out a Guitar Arrange album, a Japan exclusive. It featured most of the major tracks in F-Zero X with real instruments as opposed to synth waves and the like. I've featured a handful of F-Zero X Guitar Arrange since the beginning of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, and for good reason, as there is absolutely no dud on the album.

v1468. Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360) - Kill 'Em All

Known as Max Anarchy in other parts of the world, I'd like to use the North American name of the game, as I live on the continent. Anyway, Anarchy Reigns was a spiritual successor to the Nintendo Wii's MadWorld, even featuring several characters from that game. Instead of black, white, and red being the only colors of the game as seen in MadWorld, Anarchy Reigns consists of a larger and wider color palette, though you can tell it's a seventh generation game due to how brown and dark the overall visual appearance is. The music in Anarchy Reigns is a mix of hip-hop, rock, and rap, just like MadWorld before it.

v1469. Mega Man Battle Network 3 (GBA) - Final Transmission (15th Anniversary Arrange Best Track Ver.)

I talked about F-Zero X's Guitar Arrange Album, but recently, the Mega Man Battle Network received a special 15th anniversary album of arranged tunes from all games in the series. Rather than all being rock like F-Zero X's arranged album, this Battle Network one is much more varied. It's nice to hear the wonderful tunes of the Mega Man Battle Network series with much better clarity and more importantly, less painful chiptune music than what the Game Boy Advance could only offer at best.

v1470. Road Rash (GEN) - Pacific Coast

I'm just trying to go for a ride on the Pacific Coast, officer. So what if I took this chain and whacked a few dozen competing riders off of their bikes and probably caused immeasurable damage and harm? Road Rash is a series that needs to come back in some form. Heck, I even loved the 3D incarnations. Regardless, there's no question that the original Road Rash is one that most Genesis owners have fond memories of, and that's also due to the appealing music. Gotta love the distinctive sound of Sega Genesis chiptune music!

Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks - Part Six

Fresh off the heels of yesterday's SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we have a new edition of Underrated Games With Even More Underrated Soundtracks -- part six, if you're playing along at home! The title sort of gives away what these articles are about, but for background purposes, I love listening to and sharing music of all kinds, and yes, that includes video game music. I also have a passion for spreading the word on underrated games, as evident by the dozens of Most Overlooked articles posted on SuperPhillip Central over the years.

Join me for part six, which includes games like Yooka-Laylee, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Anarchy Reigns. To check out past parts of this ongoing article series, here are some convenient links for you!

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

Yooka-Laylee (Multi)

The first game I'm going to talk about on this edition is Yooka-Laylee, which was a dream come true for me, a critic who lists Banjo-Kazooie as one of his favorite games of all time. After all, Yooka-Laylee was crafted by many of the minds behind the aforementioned Rare classic. Yep, a good deal of the staff from Banjo left Rare to create their own studio, Playtonic Games, and they even got the Banjo-Kazooie series' composer, Grant Kirkhope, to accentuate the game world with terrific tunes. On a game standpoint, I didn't have the expectation or even the hope that Yooka and Laylee's first outing would be better than Banjo and Kazooie's freshman adventure like many fans desired, so thankfully, I had kept my expectations in check so the numerous faults in Yooka-Laylee wouldn't sour me on the whole package. Issues included: launch problems like a rough to control camera, bugs, and glitches were only toppings to the game's actual design, such as very annoying segments in the game, horrid mini-games, and some questionable boss battles. BUT quite honestly, there is some terrific platforming challenges here, most of the worlds are enjoyable to explore, and moving Yooka around feels pleasant. I can't be overly disappointed in this foundation that is set by the Playtonic crew.

Main Theme

Hivory Towers

Tribalstack Tropics

Glitterglaze Glacier

Final Beeting

Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)

By virtue of simply being on the Wii U -- a console that didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the market, hence its lackluster sales -- Xenoblade Chronicles X launched the final major year of Wii U software releases. Many had either moved on from the Wii U (well, those 14 million or so who bought one) or already sold the system after feeling intense buyer's remorse. While the original Xenoblade featured a more classical, fantasy-like soundtrack to it, featuring music from Yoko Shimomura and ACE+, Xenoblade Chronicles X went with a much more sci-fi escapade and a soundtrack to back the adventure. Hiroyuki Sawano, known for his impressive catalog of anime soundtracks, composed the music for the game. The camps of players of Xenoblade Chronicles X that loved the soundtrack and hated the soundtrack are both vocal, but as one who enjoyed the game, I say Sawano did a fantastic job, even if some really bad, cheesy tunes were a part of the soundtrack.

Codename Z

Mono X

Re:Arr X

Z5 Mira

By my side

Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360)

After the failure of MadWorld to ignite the gaming world on fire on the Wii, a spiritual successor featuring many of the characters from the Wii exclusive came to existence, the multiplatform Anarchy Reigns. This was an early work in Platinum Games' enviable library of titles, a time where Platinum Games did excellent on average with fan and critic acclaim, but their games didn't sell anywhere near what they deserved (at least in my belief). Anarchy Reigns suffered from this same issue, though the game didn't have nearly as much gaming world fanfare as Bayonetta, Vanquish, Metal Gear Rising, and so forth. A beat 'em up brawler where things in the environment like stop signs, tires, and even more vicious means to inflict violence could be used as weapons or at least accessories to murder. The soundtrack followed MadWorld's style, going with a hip-hop, rap, and rock styled song selection, fitting for taking it to anyone who stands in your way. Just don't cut yourself on the edge.

Here We Go

Fast Lane

My Town, My City

Days of Old

Kill 'Em All

Jet Force Gemini (N64)

Remnants of Rare already appeared on this list, so how about a game from the actual developer Rare itself? That's why I'm bringing in my absolute favorite Nintendo 64 soundtrack from an incredibly underrated third-person shooter, Jet Force Gemini. The music came with something as close to a sci-fi epic with its bombastic, intense soundtrack than anything else on the Nintendo 64. The team of Robin Beanland, Graeme Norgate, and Alistair Lindsay definitely made the alien worlds of Jet Force Gemini all the more tense, mysterious, foreign, and escalating in stakes with their complementary compositions. Jet Force Gemini launched in September, unfortunately in the shadow of the upcoming Donkey Kong 64. As history has shown, Donkey Kong 64 is a complicated collect-a-thon and Jet Force Gemini needed more attention. YOU BLEW IT, NINTENDO 64 OWNERS!

S.S. Anubis

Battle Cruiser Sekhmet

Rith Essa

Eschebone

Floyd Race

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)

Many Mario RPG fans routinely show disappointment over the games moving on from a surplus of RPG-originated characters to a far more limited range of just Mario's friends and foes from the Mushroom Kingdom. This became a problem in the Paper Mario series, but early last year it also infected the Mario & Luigi series with Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. The game's a fun adventure with its still fun, still engaging means of exploring maps, context-sensitive turn-based battles, and of course, the main point behind these articles, its music, penned by Yoko Shimomura, who I brought up briefly when talking about Xenoblade Chronicles' soundtrack. The playful nature of the Mushroom Kingdom world reveals itself through the composer's jaunty themes, while also bringing some dread into the air during key moments of the game. Yoko Shimomura's Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam soundtrack made it almost worth it to find all of those darn Toads!

Big Bang!

Cheerful Interlude

Welcome to the Lakitu Info Center!

Where's Toad?

Final Battle

Ittle Dew 2 (Multi)

We finish this edition up with an indie game! We don't see too much of those on this segment due to there being such a vast amount of indie games to play and little time to do so. I have to very much pick and choose what I play due to my own self-imposed deadline of having a certain amount of games reviewed each month. Now, that that boring stuff is out of the way... let's talk Ittle Dew 2! This is a game in the spirit of the overhead 2D Zeldas, but it absolutely does not take itself seriously at any time. Of course, the Zelda series often brings levity and humor in the form of outrageous, bizarre, and memorable side characters, but Ittle Dew 2 is on another level and does this even when you least expect it, such a signpost of all things. The music of Ittle Dew 2 has some really catchy melodies and rhythms to them that stick with you long after you've turned off your PS4, Xbox One, PC, or (soon-to-be) Switch. Many indies fail to have that effect on me, but Ittle Dew 2 definitely pulled through.

Fishbun Adventure (Fluffy Fields)

Garden (Village)

Strut (Sweetwater Coast)

Cowboy (Pepperpain Prairie)

Etheria (Lonely Road)

Top Ten Wii U Games That Deserve A Second Chance on the Switch

The formerly Wii U exclusive LEGO City Undercover hits store shelves today. Not only is it available on Nintendo's new console, the Switch, but also the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam. This made me wonder about what other games from the Wii U's lineup would be deserving of a second (or in some cases third) chance on the Nintendo Switch, as Mario Kart 8 is also one such title that was locked to the system but is getting an updated version on Nintendo's newest system. So let's take a look at ten Wii U titles (and yes, there are ten worthy Wii U titles to make a top ten list like this) that deserve a second shot at popularity with a Nintendo Switch version. (Note: Many of these games actually sold well on the Wii U, so the second chance I want them to receive would give them even more popularity for a much wider audience.)

10) Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

We begin with a game with a glorious clay art style that is the successor to the early Nintendo DS hit, Kirby: Canvas Curse. It's the Wii U's Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. Unlike most of the games on this list, Rainbow Curse used the Wii U GamePad exclusively for its touch-based, drawing gameplay. You drew lines to guide Kirby around and poked the pink puffball to increase his speed as you maneuvered him through obstacle courses filled with enemies to beat and puzzles to solve. Kirby's sole Wii U outing would have to use the Nintendo Switch in handheld form only due to being touch-centric, but this time around the screen would display the game in much more gorgeous higher fidelity, making for a game that would be great on the eyes on both the TV screen and tablet screen.

9) Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Taking the specific Captain Toad-centered levels of Super Mario 3D World and making an entire game out of them, you moved Captain Toad (and later Toadette) through a series of puzzle levels, interacting with the environment of each to reach the Power Star in it. Along the way, you could pick up three diamonds as well as try to beat the level with a specific requirement in order to go for 100% completion, a really fun goal. Like many Wii U games from Nintendo, the art style and characters were abundantly charming, and the gameplay kept players thinking and reacting fast to solve all of the challenges Treasure Tracker posed to them. Some of the Wii U GamePad-based segments, such as the first-person mine cart targeting, would need to be altered to work with the Switch, but all in all, Captain Toad and Toadette deserve another chance to shine as brightly as the Power Stars they both coveted.

8) Xenoblade Chronicles X

With Xenoblade Chronicles 2 supposedly releasing at the end of the year (but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Western release slip into 2018), what better time to release this marvelous open world RPG to the masses while they wait? The one positive thing about the Wii U is that Nintendo built up an arsenal of games that many consumers didn't get to play because they never owned the system. If Sony can get away with releasing their last gen offerings on the PS4, why can't Nintendo? That's where I think Xenoblade Chronicles X would fit in as an offering for those who never got to become engrossed in the massive world that X delivers and does so very well.

7) Paper Mario: Color Splash

Releasing late in the Wii U's life as most of the gaming world's attention turned to the hype train that was the Nintendo Switch, Paper Mario: Color Splash may not have been the classic turn-based RPG experience that were in the origins of the Paper Mario franchise, but the game still brought a tremendous amount of charm, incredibly well crafted worlds to explore, smartly done puzzles instead of the obtuse ones from Sticker Star, and one of the funniest, well-written games I've played in a long time. Even the lesser parts of Color Splash were worth playing through just to keep enjoying the seemingly endless charm and humor of the game. Plus, battles were finally worthwhile.

6) Pokken Tournament

A Pokemon fighter?! What took so long, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company (specifically the latter)?! Pokken Tournament combined the familiarity of the Pokemon series with the 3D fighting gameplay of the Tekken series, and this explosive combination was a great deal of fun. The arcade version continues to go strong with the inclusion of three new Pokemon fighters not seen in the Wii U version (at least not yet). It seems like it would breathe new life into the console front of Pokken Tournament with a Nintendo Switch port with the new characters and even more DLC included. After all, Pokken Tournament is a really well done fighter, and it deserves more time in the eSports arena.

5) Star Fox Zero

This was a controversial review on SuperPhillip Central, as I didn't agree with folks lamenting about the controls of the Wii U original. I found it really playable once the admittedly high barrier of entry was leaped over. That said, if retooling the controls to make a more enjoyable Star Fox experience with an improved Nintendo Switch version of Star Fox Zero would give the game and the series more popularity and fanfare, then I'm all for it. I wonder how certain parts of the game would work, what with not being able to fly one direction while targeting at a foe by looking at another direction, but I'm sure Nintendo could find some kind of balance. They are pretty good at developing solutions for gaming problems, as their history shows.

4) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

I never thought Donkey Kong Country 2 would be usurped as the top DKC game in the series for me. Nintendo and Retro Studios somehow did just that by not only creating my favorite Donkey Kong Country game with Tropical Freeze, but also by creating one of the best 2D platformers of all time. This is a shared opinion with a fair portion of the gaming community. That's why Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with all of its ingenious level design, action platforming set pieces, challenging difficulty, and lovely David Wise-composed soundtrack deserves to be played by as many gamers as possible. It'd be a shame if Tropical Freeze was stuck on the Wii U.

3) Super Mario Maker

This game, a creation tool for making 2D Mario levels, actually already had a second chance to shine with Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, but it was gimped in functionality (such as no online level sharing, a big part of what made the Wii U original so successful). Despite this, the 3DS version sold well. Regardless, I'd love to see Super Mario Maker's full Wii U version given a port to the Switch as a series of tools that are constantly updated-- sort of like its own service that continues to see updates on the Switch instead of multiple iterative sequels. The online level sharing would be included, of course, unlike the 3DS version, granting new life to Super Mario Maker with a Nintendo Switch version.

2) Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

There are rumors of Super Smash Bros' Wii U outing getting a Nintendo Switch release, especially in the early dats of Nintendo Switch news and rumor-mongering. That supposed enhanced port would receive all of the Wii U content as well as the Nintendo 3DS stages updated. We all know how well the Smash Bros. series does, and it did well on even the Wii U, so it seems like a given for there to be a Switch port while we wait for an all-new entry in the series. Heck, even with a Switch port with the Nintendo 3DS stages, that would be more than worthy of being the only Smash Bros. release for the system. Regardless, just imagine the multiplayer with the portability of the Switch. You could smash your bros from anywhere!

1) Bayonetta 2 

SEGA seems to be hinting at a Steam Bayonetta release with a timer, but it seems because of Nintendo's involvement with the sequel (published and provided funding) that Bayonetta 2 will remain a Nintendo system exclusive. Most people didn't buy the Wii U, a fact that has been made clear earlier in this article. It would make sense for Nintendo's investment to get another shot with what I would think (but I really don't want to assume) would be a quick and easy Nintendo Switch port of Bayonetta 2. It's one of the most fantastic character action games around, and Platinum Games did a magnificent job with it. Like many games on this list that didn't do so hot sales-wise, it'd be a shame if a game of this magnitude and quality was stuck on the Wii U.

===

Speaking of which, which Wii U games stuck on the system would you like to see put on Nintendo Switch the most?

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Trio of Xeno" Edition

After a week's vacation, SuperPhillip Central is back. This week begins with SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, and a special edition of this weekly segment at that. Leading off are three games with the Xeno prefix in them, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Xenogears, and Xenosaga Episode I. Though they share that aforementioned prefix, they couldn't be any more different of games if they tried. Moving on from those three games, we listen to a battle theme from Golden Sun before wrapping up with another boss theme, this time from Mega Man Star Force 2.

Listen to each song by clicking on the VGM volume name which serves as a hyperlink. Then, when you're done, you can listen to past VGM volumes via the VGM Database. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1316. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) - Codename Z

Fitting for the epic world of Xenoblade Chronicles X is an epic soundtrack! Players immediately get that sense with Codename Z, a bombastic tune featuring vocals, strings, brass, and more. Though some of the songs on the Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack do more to aggravate than delight, the majority of the tunes on the soundtrack are masterfully done.

v1317. Xenogears (PS1) - October Mermaid (Myth Album Version)

Xenogears was a solid game for the first of the two discs it was printed on. However, by the second disc, most players could tell that the game saw a rushed development by Xenogears's end. Myth is an official orchestrated and arranged soundtrack for Xenogears, featuring a selection of the most memorable tracks from the game. October Mermaid is a piano piece that is as tranquil as it is haunting in some parts.

v1318. Xenosaga Episode I (PS2) - Battle

Yasunori Mitsuda returns, this time with music from Xenosaga Episode I, the first entry in the planned six-part series of Xenosaga games. Unfortunately, only three of the games were made, though all available on the PlayStation 2. The battle theme is quite good, though it sadly can become grating as it's played over and over again during the story, even during boss battles.

v1319. Golden Sun (GBA) Versus Saturos

Despite the poor quality of the Game Boy Advance's speakers and sound chip, some composers were able to produce excellent sounding music from the system. Motoi Sakuraba was one of those, especially with his work on both Golden Sun games. We're focusing on the first, my personal favorite of the three Golden Sun games, with a battle theme against one of the primary antagonists of the game, Saturos.

v1320. Mega Man Star Force 2 (DS) - Wave Battle (Boss Theme)

We conclude this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs with a boss battle theme from Mega Man Star Force 2. That sub-series of Mega Man games saw three entries released with multiple versions, similar to Pokemon games and later Mega Man Battle Network games. However, the Mega Man Star Force series was so similar to the latter that it was overlooked by many.

Title Screens That Say A Thousand Words: Gaming's Best - Part Two

A good title screen puts the player in the mood to enjoy the game. It's memorable, it's iconic, and just looking at it even without the actual game name on it can remind of you that game. With SuperPhillip Central's relatively new series on the best title screens in gaming, these titles bring out great memories of even greater games. To check out the first entries in this series, look no further than this link. After checking out SPC's picks, which title screens from gaming's past and present do you consider the best and most memorable?

Mass Effect 3 (Multi)

We begin our journey through great title screens with one from Mass Effect 3 that really sets the stage for the game. While the ending might have had much ire from fans, the title screen of the game is one that is hard to dislike. With pieces of debris and countless asteroids falling to the planet's surface, this Mass Effect 3 title screen is so easy to get lost in, gazing at each falling piece of debris as it smashes into the planet's surface.

Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)

Xenoblade Chronicles X's title screen shares a common theme with Mass Effect 3's in that it's quite easy to get lost in. The world of the game is full of behemoth beasts both docile and threatening, and this title screen shows multiple flying beasts as our cast of heroes stands tall on a mountaintop gazing over them. The giant, hulking Skell standing next to them impresses as well, and the idea that players will be able to eventually hop inside one to take on these imposing beasts makes for one engaging title screen.

Kingdom Hearts (PS2)

Unlike Mass Effect 3 and Xenoblade Chronicles X's title screens, what Kingdom Hearts offers is a more relaxing and subdued title screen. Beautifully done artwork of series protagonist Sora rests on the right side of the screen as the logo takes up the majority of the screen's real estate. All of it is cast against a gentle white background, but the piece de resistance that blends it all together so splendidly is Yoko Shimomura's Dearly Beloved theme that plays over it. Soothing and pleasant to the eyes, this is the Kingdom Hearts title screen.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)

Going from subdued to more energetic, New Super Mario Bros. Wii's title screen shows off our heroes of the game, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad sauntering through a idyllic landscape full of small mountains and gigantic polka-dotted hills. This is all the while this peppy and upbeat tune plays. The title screen shows the first taste of the New Super Mario Bros. series on a console as well as the main draw to the game other than the terrific level design, the crazy, zany, and ultimately fun local multiplayer for up to four friends to enjoy.

Sonic & Knuckles (GEN)

This title screen begins with Sonic falling downward with Dr. Robotnik's Death Egg smashing into a mountain in the background. As Sonic's feet meet the ground, planting firmly next to Knuckles' location, the Sonic & Knuckles logo pops up from the bottom of the screen. Now, both a 3D-looking model of Sonic as well as Knuckles perform their own modest idle animations as players choose between taking on the game as either the Blue Blur or the echidna that unlike Sonic, doesn't chuckle. It's an energetic and for its time, impressive title screen that really hits home that Sega Genesis owners were in for one exciting platforming adventure.

Streets of Rage (GEN)

Streets of Rage's classic title screen brings players with a nighttime view of a '90s era city, full of criminals and thugs to beat down and brawl. The three protagonists, Axel, Blaze, and Adam, all ex-cops, position themselves on the title screen, taking up top billing as the Streets of Rage logo manifests on the screen as well. Between the gorgeous city background, the impressive and large ixel and sprite models of our three heroes, and the Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack that backs it, this title screen for Streets of Rage is absolutely old school cool.

Super Metroid (SNES)

Going from old school cool to cool in general, Super Metroid's title screen is chilling in every sense of the word. Showing fallen bodies on both sides of the baby Metroid from Metroid II: Return of Samus that is held in captivity, the cold choices of color, the flashing of the computer monitors on both sides of the Metroid, and tense, mysterious music that plays while players look on all add up to one ambient title screen that is as memorable as it is alarming.

Mega Man 2 (NES)

Wrapping up this installment of the best title screens of gaming's long history, we go very retro with this one. After the opening scrolls up the side of a building, we see Mega Man without helmet standing at the top with his hair blowing wildly in the wind. The iconic Mega Man 2 logo presents itself, and players realize that they're in the cusp of greatness. Mega Man 2 is not only one of the greatest games on the classic NES, but it also possesses one of the most memorable title screens that the system has ever seen-- And as we've seen, one of the most memorable title screens in gaming history,

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - A Wonderful Way to Begin Your Week Edition

I don't know about you, but SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs is my favorite way to start the week! There's nothing like a good dose of video game music to get one prepped and primed for the week ahead!

This week, we're kicking things off at the starting line with Mario Kart: Super Circuit. We then take on the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2 for the PS1. Moving on from there, we engage in battle with the Z fighters in Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden. Wrapping things up, we continue the trend of battle with a special arranged battle track from Sword of Mana and the battle theme of Xenoblade Chronicles X.

As always, past VGM volumes covered on this weekly segment can be found at the VGM Database, so be sure to give it a look!

v1056. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) - Circuit

The first VGM volume of this edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs comes from the first handheld entry in the Mario Kart franchise, the Game Boy Advance's Super Circuit. This theme plays during all three circuit tracks: Peach Circuit, Mario Circuit, and the rainy Luigi Circuit. While the sound quality of the Game Boy Advance hardware wasn't the best, you gotta really dig the bass on this theme.

v1057. Toy Story 2 (PS1) - Andy's House

A bright and bouncy theme for the level that takes place in Andy's House, Toy Story 2's PlayStation One soundtrack is an orchestrated delight, really showing the PS1's sound chip prowess over its competition, the Nintendo 64. The CD-based system allowed for a grander range of sounds, and with Toy Story 2, it really shows.

v1058. Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden (3DS) - Tenkaichi Budokai

The theme heard on the World Tournament stage of the underrated and overlooked Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden for the Nintendo 3DS (maybe it'll appear on an edition of Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS games... maybe later this week?). The game itself is sprite-based, using really beautifully done and well animated spritework. The music in each stage, particularly this one, gets you prepped, energized, and ready for battle!

v1059. Sword of Mana (GBA) - Battle 2 ~ Touched by Courage and Pride (Arranged)

Let's double dip in Game Boy Advance soundtracks this edition, but this time around, let's listen to an orchestrated version of a Sword of Mana battle theme. Touched by Courage and Pride features a soothing violin leading the charge, backed by piano and percussion. It really sounds like something from an Ys game, and any song that sounds like something from Ys is a winner in my book.

v1060. Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) - Black tar

Hiroyuki Sawano is a polarizing composer. His work on the anime Attack on Titan is loved and disliked by many, and his soundtrack to Xenoblade Chronicles X features music that also has split the fan base. I'm of the opinion that while the lyrics themselves are goofy, they don't hurt the actual songs, and dare I say, a lot of them sound really good. Black tar is the battle theme of Xenoblade Chronicles X, featuring some cheesy rap, but the rhythm and groove are quite nice.

SuperPhillip Central Best of 2015 Awards - Top Five Most Pleasing Visuals

Generally in my reviews, I don't harp on graphics too much. They're important to an extent to get players invigorated and impressed with a given game, but they aren't the be-all, end-all. That said, 2015 was a year of beautiful visuals for gaming. This list of five is all about the ones that were most pleasing to me, and a good number of these might surprise you.

5) Splatoon (Wii U)

Nintendo is known for having bright, vivid, and colorful games for the most part. The publisher's games seldom steer away from the inviting aesthetic, and that is true with one of its new IP, Splatoon. The game is a treat for the eyes, especially when paint is flying every which way. Character models both friendly and villain are detailed and animated well, and everything has such a clean look to it. Splatoon is definitely a great looking game for the Wii U.

4) Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)

A game which has graphics that saw me dropping my jaw on multiple occasions, Xenoblade Chronicles X's beauty is attributed to the immense and expansive areas of the game, each teeming with life, detail, and wonder. Each area is full of gorgeous things to look at, and the draw distance is absolutely incredible. Standing on the top of a vista overlooking the background is awe-inspiring. It amazes me how the Wii U is capable of such good looking games.

3) Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)

One of my favorite games with terrific visuals is Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. While the game was a step back from its predecessor, the Nintendo DS's Kirby Canvas Curse, what this Wii U sequel exceeds over Canvas Curse is its absolutely superb claymation visual style. Everything is devised up of brilliantly rendered clay-- the characters, the environments, the backgrounds, the platforms, etc. It makes for a game that has an unforgettable art style, and visuals that do a lot to please the eye.

2) Ori and the Blind Forest (XONE)

We haven't encountered the Xbox One much during the Best of 2015 Awards, but this entry changes that. Ori and the Blind Forest, a downloadable game for the Xbox One, looks and plays wonderfully. If there was ever a case for poetry in motion, Ori and the Blind Forest is it. The game is rendered so brilliantly and vividly that it looks like an animated movie (and I'm talking about those superior hand-drawn ones, and not those CG ones) come to life. Truly, a sublime looking game.

1) Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)

Like Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Yoshi's Woolly World uses a specific aesthetic to create its worlds and characters. While Kirby used a clay aesthetic, Yoshi's Woolly World delivers a wholly woolly and yarn-y visual design. The colors are rich and saturated, the worlds are inviting, even the castles, and the characters made up of everyday objects like yarn, fabric, and things like coin purses, make for a game that has my favorite visual design of 2015.